The short version
- SelfieToPassport: a 600 x 600 px OCI JPEG under 200 KB from a phone photo, free preview, $6.95.
- Make the image square, between 200 x 200 and 900 x 900 pixels.
- Save it as a JPEG or JPG of 200 KB or less.
- Use a plain light-colored background that is not white, with no border and no shadows.
- Show the full head, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, facing the camera.
- Keep your eyes open and visible; no tinted or dark glasses.
- Do not retouch, enhance or soften the photo.
The file rules for the OCI photo upload
Start with the file: square, between 200 and 900 pixels a side, JPEG, 200 KB or less. A phone photo is rectangular and several megabytes, so it needs cropping, resizing and compressing.
The same 200 KB limit applies to the signature image, which is a separate upload.
The rules
- The OCI upload has to be square, at least 200 x 200 pixels and at most 900 x 900 pixels. ociservices.gov.in
- Both the photo and the signature uploaded for an OCI card must be JPEG or JPG files of 200 KB or less. ociservices.gov.in
- The OCI FAQ describes the uploaded photo as a square no smaller than 51 x 51 mm, with 80% coverage of the face. ociservices.gov.in
The background must not be white
This is where the OCI photo differs from a U.S. passport or visa photo: the background is a plain light color, but not white, and the image has no border.
Pick a plain wall in a light color other than white; a white wall or sheet does not meet the rule. Light it evenly so there are no shadows on the face or behind it.
The rules
- For an OCI application, the background must be a plain light color but not white, with no border, and the photo shows the head and shoulders with the full face in the middle. ociservices.gov.in
- Distracting shadows on the face or on the background are ruled out by the OCI photo specification. ociservices.gov.in
Head size, eyes and glasses
Frame the whole head, hair included, with the face in the middle and the eyes open and level.
The rules
- Measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, the head in an OCI photo should be 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) tall. ociservices.gov.in
- OCI applicants keep their eyes open, level and clearly visible, not hidden by hair or eyeglass frames. ociservices.gov.in
- Tinted or dark lenses are not accepted in an OCI photo, and glare on clear glasses can be avoided by tilting the head slightly up or down. ociservices.gov.in
- Retouching, enhancing or softening an OCI photo is not allowed by the specification. ociservices.gov.in
What happens if the photo is refused
A photo outside the standards is rejected and can hold up the application. When there is a problem with an uploaded photo, the Indian mission, post or FRRO handling the case tells you by email.
The rules
- The OCI portal warns that photos outside its standards are rejected and can delay processing. ociservices.gov.in
- If an uploaded OCI photo or document falls short, the Indian mission, post or FRRO handling the case tells the applicant by email. ociservices.gov.in
- According to the Embassy of India in Washington, OCI cardholders must upload a copy of every new passport and a recent photo online, at any age, and the upload may be done within three months of receiving the passport. indianembassyusa.gov.in
How to fix the photo
SelfieToPassport crops, resizes and compresses the photo in your browser. It does not replace the background, so take the photo against a light wall that is not white. You see the result in a free preview before you pay $6.95.
- Retake the photo against a plain light-colored wall that is not white, with even light and no shadows.
- Crop to a square with the full head, hair to chin, in the middle.
- Resize to 600 x 600 pixels (anything from 200 to 900 pixels a side is accepted).
- Save as a JPEG and check that the file is 200 KB or less.
- Upload it again in the OCI application, or answer the email from the mission with the new file.
FAQ
What size is the OCI photo upload?
Square, at least 200 x 200 and at most 900 x 900 pixels, as a JPEG or JPG of 200 KB or less. Source: official page "Online OCI Services › Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)", checked on Oct 25, 2026.
Can an OCI photo have a white background?
No. The OCI FAQ asks for a plain light color background that is not white, without a border. Source: official page "Online OCI Services › Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)", checked on Oct 25, 2026.
Can I wear glasses in an OCI photo?
Clear glasses only if the frames do not cover the eyes, tilting the head slightly to avoid glare. Tinted or dark lenses are not accepted. Source: official page "Requirement of photograph for OCI Registration (Photo Specifications)", checked on Oct 25, 2026.
Do I need to upload a new OCI photo when I get a new passport?
Yes. The Embassy of India in Washington says cardholders upload a copy of each new passport and a recent photo online, and the upload may be done within three months of receiving the passport. Source: official page "OCI Card Reissue Guidelines — Embassy of India, Washington D.C.", checked on Oct 25, 2026.
Where this information comes from
Every rule on this page comes from a page published by the U.S. Department of State and the companies named, read on the date shown. We rewrite each rule in plain words and link to the page it came from. Each rule has a review deadline; one that passes it without a new check comes off the page.
- Online OCI Services › Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ociservices.gov.in · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Requirement of photograph for OCI Registration (Photo Specifications) ociservices.gov.in · checked Oct 25, 2026
- OCI Card Reissue Guidelines — Embassy of India, Washington D.C. indianembassyusa.gov.in · checked Oct 25, 2026
Something here out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official page.